How long does it take to truely see everything at DL and CA?

jacobsmommy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
1,352
We will be arriving on Sunday, June 24 to LAX at 9:20 and picking up our rental car. Then we'll head to DL for the afternoon/early evening. We are staying at the Anaheim Fairfield. We also have all of that Monday and Tuesday at the parks before we eat breakfast at Goofy's on Wed. morning and then head to San Diego. Will we have enough time in the two parks? By the way, it will be my dh, me and our three year old boy.
 
If your little boy is stroller bound you should be ok. End of June is probably busy - never been at that time. Overall though if you plan your days - get there bright and early and hop to DCA when DL gets packed - I think you should be fine.
 
Well even though it is a busy time, if you can stay in the parks most of the open hours (not sure how early your son goes to bed) you should be fine. The best hours in the summer are the first two of the day and the last two. Last June we probably rode about 12 rides just between 10pm - midnight, so if your son can hang like my little ones, you'll be good to go!

Also I think that amount of time will be okay regardless! You may not be able to do your favorites those extra few times, but I know you will be able to hit everything you want to atleast once.

Have fun!

Andrea
 
We'll be there at that same time! And in fact, we were there that same time last year. It will be busy but as Matterhorn says, early mornings and late nights are great for getting lots of rides in. You have two full days plus that first day. Also, since your son is young, you'll be concentrating on only certain rides and attractions, not necessarily doing all the big headliners that build the big lines. I think you'll have a great time. And hopefully the Finding Nemo Subs will be open for you (and me too ;) ).
 

It kind of depends if you will want to ride rides by yourself or only the rides that your son will/can. Choice A- You mix up the rides. A variety of adult rides and family rides. Choice B- "Dumbo-or-Die" where you ride every ride with your son.

Choice A- This will take longer than 2 days although if you get to the parks early, use Fastpass to the fullest, eat at off hours, and run to the most popular rides first, you should be pretty close to most of what you want to see.

Choice B- This will take around 1.5-2 days and should be more relaxed. Fit Fantasyland first and knock off Dumbo, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Mr. Toad early. If characters are important, hit Toontown as soon as it opens(Ithink 1 hour after the park opens). Then take your time visiting the rides in Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frotierland, ToonTown, and Critter Country. Rides in New Orleans Square are a toss-up depending on if your child is afraid of pirates or ghosts. California Adventure is much easier to decide what to do. FIrst hit Monster's Inc. and Turtle Talk, then the rides in A Bugs Land, then ride any Paradise Pier rides that interest your son and spend some time in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to tire him out!
 
It sounds like you will be buying a 3 or 4 day park hopper ticket. If so, you will be entitled to "Early Entry" on one day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday). Early Entry allows you to enter Disneyland (not California Adventure) one hour prior to the published opening time. Fantasyland rides and some of Tomorrowland rides are open. This is an excellent time to get in the busy rides (Peter Pan, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, etc) before the park gets busy. As these rides have longer lines during the day, you can easly ride most of Fantasyland rides in the first 1-2 hours you are there. You need to plan to be at the trolley drop off or parking garage 30 minutes prior to the Early Entry so you can get through security check and in line for when the turnstyles open. They don't normally open a minute early, but the closer to the gate you are, the faster you get to the rides. Early Entry is only allowed one time per Parkhopper (unless you are staying at a Disney property hotel). Anyway, we found Early Entry to be the best thing to get the most of a day, even on a very crowded holiday weekend!
 


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